Long cork with corrugated shell attached



July 20, 1937. G; GoEBEl. 2,087,343

LONG COBK WITH CORRUGATED SHELL ATTACHED Filed Aug. 2, 1935 FIFO/t9@ 60.25@

Patented `uly 20, 1937 UNITED STATES LONG CORK WITH CORRUGAT'ED SHELL ATTACHED George Goebel, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc., Baltimore, Md., a corporation of New York Application August 2, 1935, Serial No. 34,466

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to closures and more especially to an improved stopper for use with bottles and similar receptacles.

An important object of the invention consists in providing an inexpensive, eicient and durable closure and method of constructing the same, in which a preformed cap having a corrugated skirt, has associated therewith a liner provided with a serrated marginal edge arranged when the liner is inserted within the cap, to interlockingly engage the corrugations to prevent independent movement of the cap and liner relative to each other.

A further object consists in providing a stopl per with a reinforced cap having its skirt provided with vertically disposed corrugations interrupted to form a weakened portion in the sln'rt and thereby facilitate the bending of the free edge of the skirt into engagement with the stopper.

A further object consists in providing a unitary closure structure in which the parts are connected so as to preserve the integrity of the closure, and which may be repeatedly used without the necessity of employing independent extracting instrumentalities.

A further object consists in associating with a cap and cork stopper, a liner having means for connecting the liner to the stopper, said means preferably comprising spaced prongs extending from the liner and embedded in the stopper in such a fashion that the edges of the prongs will not cut or injure the cork when the stopper is turned in the mouth of a bottle.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying claims and drawing.

Referring to the drawing in which is shown several preferred embodiments of the invention,

Figure l is a vertical sectional View of a stopper with my invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a plan View of a cap made. in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is 'a plan View of a liner arranged to be associated with the cap;

Figure 5 is a side view of the liner shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional View showing means which may be employed for applying the. cap to the stopper;

Figure 'l is a. sectional view of a modified form of the invention; f

Figure 8 is a sectional View of a further modication, and

Figure 9 is a bottom plan view of a modified form of liner which may be associated with the closure.

Referring to the drawing in which like numerals indicate like parts in the several views, l@ designates a compressible stopper made of any suitable material such as cork or the like, and which may be of varying dimensions so as to t within the mouth of a bottle or other container with which the stopper is to be applied.

In order to facilitate convenient insertion and extraction of the stopper l@ without danger of breaking the same and without independent removing means, the outer end of the head ll is provided with a reinforcing cap or shell l2 formed from a metallic blank of thin distortable or flexible material. The cap l2 is preformed and has a smooth top or crown i3, preferably slightly convex exteriorly, and a dependent skirt It (Figure 3). The skirt l@ has vertically disposed corrugations l5 which may be interrupted as at I8 to provide a circumferentially extending smooth weakened portion which facilitates the bending or turning of the free edge il of the skirt (Figure l) into engagement with the stopper when the parts are being assembled.

lnsertable within the cap i2 is a metallic liner i3 conformable in diameter to the interior diameter of the cap and which may be, as shown in Figure 5, substantially similar in shape to the concave inner surface of the top i3. The liner I8 has a marginal serrated edge i9 arranged to engage interlockingly the corrugations l5 and prevent rotary movement of the cap and liner relative to each other. Struck out from the liner i8 are prongs or tines 2K3 which are embedded in the head Il of the stopper to insure the liner being rmly connected to the stopper.

In assembling the parts into a unitary closure, such as shown in Figure l, the liner i3 is rst inserted in the preformed cap l2 so that the serrations i8 engage the corrugations l5. The upper end or head il of the stopper is then positioned within the cap and the prongs 2li are forced into the stopper so as to be rmly embedded therein. lline free end il' is then turned inwardly along the circumferential line it by any suitable means so as to be forced into the side of the stopper Hi. As shown in Figure 6, this means may comprise a tubular stationary die member 2E in which is axially movable an ejector 22 normally positioned to form with the circumferential wall of the die El a socket or seat 23 for receiving the cap and liner when they are initially applied to the end of the stopper. A movable forming die Eil is arranged to fit removably over the die 2l to force the end il of the skirt into engagement with Vthe stopper. The die 2i has a through opening provided at one end with an enlarged recess 25 of substantially the same diameter as the external diameter of the die 2l. The inner or bottom wall 26 of the recess 25 constitutes a shoulder which acts to limit the downward movement of the die 2li when the latter is applied to the die 2l. The

inner end of the wall 2t merges into an annular portion 2l of substantially the same diameter as the skirt iii. The upper end of the wall portion 21 is inclined inwardly to form a flared wall 28 which communicates with the restricted opening Y inwardly due to the taper of the wall portion 28 and is forced into the adjacent side of the stopper i, so as to assume the position shown in Figure 1. The weakened portion it* facilitates the bending of the end Il while the corrugations in the vertical side 3Q strengthen the skirt and coact with the liner i S to maintain the skirt in its preformed shape during the bending operation and in the subsequent use of the closure. After the end portion il' is embedded in the stopper, the forming die 2li is removed and the closure withdrawn from the die by theupward movement of the ejector 22. Manifestly, the inclination of the tapered wall portion 23 may be varied so that `the end li, when moved into engagement with the stopper, may be disposed at any angle desired relative to the vertical side of the skirt.

When the parts are set up to assume the position shown in Figure l, it will be observed that the liner iii is positioned so that the serrations i9 interlock with the corrugations i at the juncture of the top i?) with the skirt of the cap, thus providing a unitary closure in which the parts are firmly connected together and which may be repeatedly used without danger of breaking the cork or loosening of theV partsk no matter how often the stopper is extracted and replaced in the mouth of a bottle or container.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 7, the stopper 3l is provided with a reinforced cap 32 having a depending skirt 33 provided with corrugations Sii which are interrupted as at 35 to form a circumferential weakened portion in the skirt. The cap 32 is similar in construction to the cap previously described. The liner however, is formed with a marginal downwardly extending ange 3i having a serrated edge 38 in locking engagement with the corrugations 34 above the weakened portion 3o but spaced below the top 32 to prevent the turning of the liner within the cap. The free end portion 33' of the skirt may be bent into engagement with the stopper 3| by any suitable means such as by the die members shown in Figure 6. rIhe liner 32 may also have the prongs 3@ stamped therefrom which are embedded in the head of the stopper 3| to insure 'the positive connection of these parts. The particular formation of the liner 32 acts not only to. reinforce the top of the cap but also provides additional rigidity to the vertical side of the skirt when the parts are being assembled and during the subsequent use of the stopper.

In the modified forni rof the invention shown in Figure 8, the cap di) and stopper 4l may be substantially similar in shape and construction as their corresponding parts previously described. The liner 42 instead of being formed with a downwardly extending flange as shown in Figure '7, has an upwardly and outwardly curved flange 43 provided with a peripheral serrated edge 44 which interlockingly engages the corrugations 45 in the vertical side 4t of the skirt adjacent the juncture of the top of the cap with the skirt. The

liner 42 may also be provided with prongs 4I which extend in a direction opposite to that of the flange 43 and are embedded in the adjacent end or head of the stopper 4! when the parts are assembled. The corrugations 515 are preferably interrupted as at iii so that the free end Q9 of the skirt may be bent or turned inwardly into engagement with the stopper di by any suitable means such as by the die members previously described.

When withdrawing a closure of this type from a bottle, it is customary initially to turn the closure to free the stopper from the wall of the bottle. In some instances, the stopper adheres to the bottle and high turning pressure has to be applied before it will move freely Within the bottle. As shown in Figure l, the prongs 253 of 'the liner IS are positionedY so that the edges of the prong are disposed in the orbital path of the closure and, in some instances, may, under high turning forces, cut or mutilate the cork before the cork turns in the bottle neck.

To obviate the danger of cutting .the cork and thus impairing the connection between the liner and the stopper, there is shown in Figure 9 a liner 50, which is substantially similar in construction to the liner I8, but distinguishes therefrom in that its prongs I are struck out or otherwise connected to the liner in such a fashion that each prong has its widest surfaces extending substantially radially so that these surfaces and not the sharp edges of the prongs bear against the cork when the latter is turned in the bottle.

In other words, the prongs 5i are embedded in the stopper so that when the latter is subjected to turning movement, the faces of the prongs are disposed in planes substantially perpendicular to the line of turning movement of the closure, with the result that a substantial portion of each prong while resisting the turning pressure, absorbs the twistor turning pressure imparted to the closure without danger of cutting the cork as would be the case if the edges of the prong were positioned to receive this turning pressure. As will be understood, this arrangement of prongs may be used, as desired, in the liners of Figures l, 7 and 8.

It will be seen that in all forms of the invention the liner is positively and firmly connected to the cap by the locking engagement of the serrations with the corrugated portion of the skirt, while the liner is positioned wholly within the cap and is of sufcient rigidity to coact with the vertical corrugated portion of the skirt to' reinforce and maintain the top and vertical side of the cap in their initial shapes. Moreover, by virtue of the rigid and rm connection effected between the cap, liner, and the stopper with one another, the unity of the three-piece closure is preserved and the danger of the parts becoming loose or disassembled under repeated usage is greatly reduced. Additionally, the cap and liner are secured to the stopper in such a manner as to lessen the liability of the stopper being broken when applied to or removed from the container. Manifestiy, the closures may be of varying sizes and shapes, depending upon the type of container with which they are to' be used.

In manufacture of the device, the metallic shell and liner with its prongs preformed may be assembled before the skirt of the shell is bent and shipped as an article of manufacture. Or the two parts may be shipped separately and assembled at the time they are combined with the stopper. The combining of a shell with a stopper may be performed by a simple die mechanism at or about the time of use of the closure. Consequently, the shell and vliner constitute, as such, an independent article of manufacture.

When the parts of the closure are assembled, it will be seen that the liner acts not only to strengthen the skirt but also reinforces the top of the cap which, in ordinary handling, is liable to be distorted or indented and thus mar the otherwise attractive appearance of the closure.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention shown an-d described are merely illustrative of preferred embodiments and methods of constructing the same, and that such changes may be made as fall within the purview of one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:-

1. A closure for bottles and other containers including a stopper, a cap for the stopper having a corrugated skirt, a liner arranged to fit within the cap, said liner having a serrated marginal edge interlockingly engaging the corrugations on the skirt to prevent independent movement of the cap and liner relative to each other, said skirt having an inwardly extending portion embedded in the stopper, and means to prevent movement of the liner relative to the stopper.

2. A closure for bottles and other containers including a stopper, a cap for the stopper having a depending skirt provided with corrugations, said corrugations having interrupted portions to form a weakened portion in the skirt, a liner arranged to iit, within the cap, said liner having a serrated marginal edge interlockingly engaging the corrugations to prevent independent movement of the cap and liner relatively to each other, said skirt being bent inwardly at the weakened portion so that its free end is embedded in the stopper, and means to prevent movement of the liner relative to the stopper.

3. A closure for bottles and other containers including a stopper, a cap for the stopper having a depending skirt provided with corrugations, said corrugations having interrupted portions to form a weakened portion in the skirt, a liner arranged to iit within the cap, said liner having struck-out prongs embedded in the stopper and a serrated marginal edge interlockingly engaging the corrugations above the weakened portion of the skirt to prevent independent movement of the cap and liner relative to each other, and said skirt being bent inwardly at the weakened portion so that its free end is embedded in the stopper.

4. A closure for bottles and other containers including a stopper, a cap for the stopper having a top and a corrugated skirt, a liner arranged to fit within the cap, said liner having a serrated marginal edge interlockingly engaging the corrugations on the skirt adjacent the juncture of the skirt with the top of the cap to` prevent independent rotary movement of the cap and liner relative to each other, and said skirt having an inwardly extending end portion embedded in the stopper.

5. A closure for bottles and other receptacles including a cork stopper, a metallic cap for the stopper having a depending skirt provided with corrugations, said corrugations having interrupted portions to form a weakened portion in the skirt, a metallic disc liner arranged to fit within the cap, said liner having struck-out prongs embedded in the stopper and a downwardly extending marginal iiange provided with a serrated edge interlockingly engaging the corrugations on the skirt to prevent independent rotary mo-vement of the cap and liner relative to each other, and said skirt being turned inwardly at the weakened portion so that its free end is embedded in the stopper.

6. A closure for bottles and other receptacles including a cork stopper, a metallic cap for the S'UOIJ'DSI having a depending skirt provided with corrugations, said corrugations having interrupted portions to form weakened portions in the skirt, a metallic disc liner arranged to fit within the cap, said liner having struck-out portions embedded in the stopper and .an upwardly extending marginal iiange provided with a serrated edge interlockingly engaging the corrugations on the skirt to prevent independent rotary movement of the cap and liner relative to each other and said skirt being turned inwardly at the weakened portion so that its free end is embedded in the stopper. l

7. A closure for bottles and other receptacles including a cork stopper, a metallic cap for the stopper having a depending skirt provided with corrugations, said corrugations having interrupted portions to form a weakened portion in the skirt, a metallic disc liner arranged to it within the cap, said liner having struck-out prongs embedded in the stopper and a marginally upwardly extending flange provided with a serrated edge interlockingly engaging the corrugations on the skirt adjacent the juncture of the skirt with the top of the cap to prevent independent rotary movement of the cap and liner relative to each other, said skirt being turned inwardly at the weakened portion so that its free end is embedded in the stopper.

8. A closure for bottles and other receptacles including a cork stopper, a metallic cap for the stopper having a depending skirt provided with corrugations, said corrugations having interrupted portions to form a weakened portion in the skirt, a metallic disc liner .arranged torfit within the cap, said liner having struck-out prongs embedded in the stopper and a downwardly extending marginal flange provided with a serrated edge interlockingly engaging the corrugations on the skirt to prevent independent rotary movement of the cap and hner relative to each other, each of said prongs having its faces disposed substantially radially of the closure to prevent the edges of the prongs cutting the cork when the closure is turned.

9. As a new article of manufacture, a cap for Stoppers having a depending slnrt provided with corrugations, said corrugations having interrupted portions to form a weakened portion in the skirt, and a metallic liner inserted within the cap and having a serrated marginal edge interlockingly engaging the corrugations on the skirt above the interrupted portions to prevent independent movement of the cap and liner relative to each other, said liner having a plurality of prongs arranged to be inserted into the top of a stopper.

GEORGE GOEBEL. 

